Question: Where does CCL stand on the Paris Agreement?

Answer: Citizens’ Climate Lobby holds that international agreements are necessary to make meaningful progress to address climate change. The actions of any single country, by itself, will not be sufficient to address this global issue. Therefore, CCL hopes that the U.S. will continue to engage in international negotiations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

While the Paris Agreement [1,2] contained only voluntary reductions, CCL still views this cooperation between countries as important and meaningful and views the Paris Agreement as an important milestone that recognized the challenge we face. Also, CCL is disappointed by the U.S. decision to begin withdrawal from this agreement.

It is important to also understand that while the U.S. may have begun the lengthy process of withdrawing from the voluntary Paris Agreement – a non-binding agreement which is not a treaty – we are not withdrawing from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, a treaty that was negotiated and ratified under the Administration of President George H.W. Bush in 1992. [3]

Regardless of what the current and future administrations may do regarding the Paris Agreement, it is still imperative for Congress to enact effective legislation to reduce carbon pollution. Citizens’ Climate Lobby, along with many conservative and progressive voices, proposes a solution that is both effective and equitable – a steadily-rising fee on carbon with revenue returned to households.

In particular, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, if passed and signed into law, would not only meet, but significantly exceed the goals of the Paris Agreement.